Attorneys for 2 defendants in the Oakhill public corruption case are accusing prosecutors of making false statements.

Lawyers for Youngstown Mayor John McNally and former Mahoning County Auditor Mike Sciortino say statements made to the media by Dan Tierney, spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office, regarding their defense strategy are not correct.

Part of the statement from the attorneys reads: "Mr. McNally and Mr. Sciortino do not want a continuance, they simply want the procedures employed for this trial to be fair."

The Oakhill trial approaches at the end of this month. Counsel for Mr. McNally and Mr. Sciortino continue to file motions on behalf of their clients to ensure that the proceedings are conducted in accordance with the rules and the law. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has chosen to respond to recent defense filings by trying to ascribe some improper motive to the filings. This has been a routine practice from the Ohio Attorney General's Office throughout this case. The Code of Professional Conduct governs pretrial comments on pending cases. The Rules apply to all offices that employlawyers; public and private sector alike. The Rules do not permit attorneys to comment upon opposing counsel's motives, thought processes, or approach to defending a case. Fortunately, the Rules do permit counsel to respond to public comments which are prejudicial. Continually proscribing improper motives to the defense filings and to defense counsel can be done for no other purpose than to prejudice the proceedings.

Mr. McNally and Mr. Sciortino do not want a continuance, they simply want the procedures employed for this trial to be fair. The defense has provided discovery and a witness list to the State. The defense has no burden at trial, only the State has the burden of proof. It logically follows that what the defense intends to use at trial and who the defense intends to call depends upon what the State presents. As the State continues to make disclosures of evidence and witnesses, the defense will respond and supplement their responses. Mr. Tierney, spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office has again made public comments that are not correct. The defense is not trying to delay this trial and the defense has provided discovery to the State.

In the last 90 days the State of Ohio has produced additional discovery of over 4,000 pages of records and nearly 400 computer discs. Much of the supplemental discovery has been in the government's possession for well over 5 years. The State has amended the witness list 3 times, recently adding an additional 9 witnesses never previously disclosed. It would indeed appear as though someone is trying to force a continuance. It is not the defense.

Two long-time popular events in Salem need a little help in order to continue next year. The events have become summertime traditions that benefit the city and local charities. For years the Arby's Car Cruise has attracted cruisers and car lovers every Saturday, and one weekend every June the show moves downtown for the Salem Super Cruise. It's been a labor of love for a group called the Cruisin Crew. But the crew is getting older and will step away after this year. "And ...More >>

Two long-time popular events in Salem need a little help in order to continue next year. The events have become summertime traditions that benefit the city and local charities. For years the Arby's Car Cruise has attracted cruisers and car lovers every Saturday, and one weekend every June the show moves downtown for the Salem Super Cruise. It's been a labor of love for a group called the Cruisin Crew. But the crew is getting older and will step away after this year. "And ...More >>

Niles was placed in fiscal emergency in 2014 after many of its major fund fell into the red. In fact earlier this year, the water fund alone was in the red by nearly $800,000. Now today the water fund is above water, sitting at over $200,000 in the black. Now as it enters the final quarter of 2017, for the first time in three years, all the major funds of the city, including water, light and its general fund have positives balances. City officials say it took a lot of har...More >>

Niles was placed in fiscal emergency in 2014 after many of its major fund fell into the red. In fact earlier this year, the water fund alone was in the red by nearly $800,000. Now today the water fund is above water, sitting at over $200,000 in the black. Now as it enters the final quarter of 2017, for the first time in three years, all the major funds of the city, including water, light and its general fund have positives balances. City officials say it took a lot of har...More >>

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is reviving legislation that emerged last year as then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump urged his supporters to watch Philadelphia closely for cheating at the...

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is reviving legislation that emerged last year as then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump urged his supporters to watch Philadelphia closely for cheating at the polls on...

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Authorities say they plan more operations similar to an undercover human sex trafficking sting in Mahoning County that resulted in charges against nine men, most of whom who were allegedly looking to buy sex.

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